Death Singing

In the straw-colored light
In light rapidly changing
On a life rapidly fading
Have you seen death singing?
Have you seen death singing?

With a throat smooth as a lamb
Yet dry as a branch not snapping
He throws back his head
And he does not sing a thing mournful

Have you seen death singing?
Have you seen death singing?
Have you seen death singing
In the straw-colored light?

He sings a black embrace
And white opals swimming
In a child's leather purse
Have you seen death swimming?
Have you seen death swimming?

With a throat smooth as a lamb
Yet dry as a branch not snapping
He throws back his head
And he does not sing a thing mournful

Have you seen death singing?
Have you seen death singing?
Have you seen death singing
In the straw-colored light?

He sings of youth enraged
And the burning of Atlanta
And these viral times
And may ribbon streaming
And straw-colored curls a-turning
A mother's vain delight
And woe to the sun
And woe to the dawn
And woe to the young
Another hearse is drawn

Have you seen death singing?
Have you seen death singing?
Have you seen death singing
In the straw-colored light?